Page 62 of His to Protect

It did crazy things to the already wet area between my thighs. I wanted to hear his voice, every day, say my name just like that.

“Hmm?” I murmured, pressing my lips against his skin again. My fingers gripped his shoulder, as if I were trying to hold him to me so I could explore him.

I wanted him more than anything.

“You awake, sweetheart?”

I nodded, keeping my eyes closed and my exploration slow, savoring every inch of him.

It was soon no longer enough.

Declan’s chest began to rise and fall at a faster pace. His hand continued pressing me against his body and my hips began to move against his thigh of their own accord.

I was grinding on him, and he was letting me.

He was giving me control in this moment as if he somehow knew I desperately needed it.

I did.

I also wanted to lose it.

“You feel so good,” I replied, my voice a hoarse whisper. “When I’m next to you, I feel safe.”

“Aww, sweetheart.” His hand tightened on my back and he shifted his weight, rolling to the side and holding me against him. The move made me straddle his lower thigh, and my hips pressed into him. “You’re still hurt.”

“I know.” I was. I was hurting everywhere, but it wasn’t my ankle that was throbbing. To show him what I meant, I slid my hand to his hip and tried to pull him closer to me. “I want you, though.”

I felt him shudder as he exhaled deeply, and I finally opened my eyes. His hand slid up to the back of my neck and he tilted my head, forcing me to meet his gaze.

His dark-brown eyes were heated, full of desire. I watched his throat dip and move as he swallowed, seeming to decide what to do next.

“I want this, Declan.” I strengthened my voice. I wanted him to know that I wanted the same things he did. To explore what we were feeling as adults. It didn’t have to lead to forever; I just wanted to enjoy it for now.

He pressed his other hand to my cheek, pushing back my hair and tucking it behind my ear.

“You always do that,” I whispered, a small smile tilting my lips at the corners. “Why?”

His eyes watched the movement of his hand. “Because you always seem so soft and I can’t help but touch you.”

“Then do it,” I challenged him softly. “Touch me.”

His forehead fell to mine. I felt his chest heave against me and he closed his eyes. “If I start, I wouldn’t want to stop, Trina. Not until every inch of you is mine.”

His.

His need to claim me didn’t scare me. Not like it would have coming from someone else. Not like it did when Kevin said I was his.

There was a difference.

Kevin wanted to control me, to make me a possession.

Declan just wanted me at his side.

I wanted to be beneath him. Or maybe on top of him.

“Please,” I pleaded, my hips rolling against his leg again. “I need this.”

And so did he, based on the bulge I felt beneath the fabric of his boxers.

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